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Participants at a recent pro-P3 conference in St. John’s, Nfld., got a strong warning from CUPE about the dangers of P3s. The one-day event, organized by the St. John’s Board of Trade, included a session on the “myths and magic” of P3s.

CUPE NL president Wayne Lucas pointed out the sleight-of-hand behind the term P3. “We would like participants, and the public, to understand that these are not ‘partnerships’, they are privatization in sheep’s clothing,” he said.

The conference’s three speakers were a lawyer, a consultant and a P3 pusher from Ireland’s national business lobby group. Conference discussion focused on possible P3 opportunities in the province as well as moving governments to “optimize P3 opportunities.”

CUPE reminded media and the public of recent P3 fiascos, including failed water privatizations in Hamilton and Halifax.

With files from The Telegram (St. John’s)